sheffield



(No Model.)

L. T. SHEFFIELD.-

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH.

Patented Dec. 14 1886.

, W 1. VAL/4; w %W% N. PEIERS. Pholwlilhogmpher, Washington. nc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUGIUS T. SHEFFIELD, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH.

SPECIPICATIO N forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,357, dated December 14, 1886.

Application filed August 12, I864. Serial No. 140,360. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUoIUs T. SHEFFIELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dentures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of artificial dentures in which the masticating-surfaces are upon metallic ribs or blocks provided with facing portions of porcelain representing the natural teeth; and my invention consists in constructing the teeth or denture by applying the porcelain facings in a plastic state to the backing part and baking them thereon.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view representing my improved porcelain tooth. Fig. 2 is a side view of the metallic portion of the tooth. Fig. 3 is a sectional View of Fig. 1.

The portion A of the tooth is either a metal block or a metallic bar or bridge, of nickel or other refractory metal, so formed that one of the faces :0 thereof will constitute the masticating-surface of the denture. This metallic portion A is first formed, and is then drilled to receive the ends of headed pins a, which are driven tightly into the openings, so as to secure a firm connection, or otherwise suitably connected. The porcelain-body material in a plastic state is then applied to the metallic backing, so as to surround and inclose the headed portions of the pins, and is then cut or formed. to the proper shape, enameled, and baked upon the metallic portion, to which it will thus be caused to firmly adhere without leaving any joints or openings for the reception of the fluids of the mouth. Single teeth may thus be formed of the combined backing and porcelain portions A B, and may be used in building up artificial dentures in a manner too well known to need further description.

Instead of headed pins, loops or other projections may be upon the metallic portion A, or the latter may be recessed or socketed to receive a portion of the porcelain facing B, and in some instances the porcelain facing may be baked upon the plain surface of the backing without necessarily employing any retaining devices.

I do not here claim, broadly, an artificial tooth consisting ofa metal back and an ornamental porcelain facing, as this is claimed in my application, Serial No. 140,359.

I do not here claim such features, (shown in the accompanying drawings and described,) which are claimed in my application, Serial No. 140,359.

WVithont limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim- 1. The combination, in an artificialdent-ure, of a metallic body formed to constitute the masticating portion of the tooth, a porcelain facing baked upon the said backing and not extending over the masticating port-ion, and

pins extending from the hacking into the porcelain portion of the tooth, substantially as specified.

2. A11 artificial denture consisting of ablock upon which is the masticatingsurface, and a porcelain facing baked to and upon said back- V ing, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUOIUS T. SHEFFIELD.

\Vitnesses:

Gno. H. Evans, F. L. FREEMAN. 

